How to Use a French Press
If you've never used a French press before, we understand that it might be tricky to navigate, but no worries, we're here to show you how to use it and other ways to successfully use a French Press from Primula!
A French press is actually super simple to use. All you have to do is add your coffee grounds to the bottom of the French press, and heat water in a tea kettle - we prefer to heat our water using the Primula Precision Pour Kettle because of its long, narrow gooseneck spout, which ensures precise pouring. You will love how this gooseneck pot gives you total control as you aim your steaming hot water into your French press along with your fresh coffee grounds. Depending on the amount of coffee you desire, fill the French press to the top, or wherever you want it, gently stir in the coffee grounds with the water until combined, add the plunger back onto the Frech press, and gently press down until all grounds are pressed to the bottom. The plunger has an extra fine mesh filter that guarantees that all of the coffee grounds will be pushed to the bottom of the French press.
Is a French Press Actually French?
It's in the name, so it must come from France, right? Who invented the French press? According to European Coffee Trip, a Frenchman was boiling water to make coffee and quickly realized that he forgot to add his coffee into his water. When he added his coffee grounds to the boiling water, the grounds stayed at the top, but he wanted to save his coffee somehow. He then took a screen and used a stick to press the screen down, pushing all of the grounds to the bottom of the pot. The man ended up loving the way his coffee tasted and it ended up being quite the invention! So to answer your question, yes, the French press is French!
Our Favorite French Presses
Primula has a wide range of French presses. Below are some of our favorites that we know you'll love!
Pierre Coffee French Press, Easy To Clean, 8 Cup Capacity - Primula
$19.99
The Today Pierre Coffee Press features a modern, stylish design with high-quality, durable glass. The handle is made from a heat resistant plastic that not only provides you with a firm and reliable grip, but also allows your hand to… read more
The Pierre Coffee French Press features a modern and stylish design that is built with high quality, durable glass. The glass is designed so you can pour hot water into the glass without having to worry about shattering or shocking the glass. The handle is made from a heat resistant plastic that not only provides you with a firm and reliable grip but also allows your hand to stay cool while pouring. Its advanced filter plunger provides you with superior brewing capabilities regardless of the type of coffee used. It maintains the oil and flavor of the coffee grounds while eliminating agents that cause bitter and sour tastes. The French Press has a carefully designed and fitted lid with no gaps so every pour is clean and even, while the coffee grounds are kept in the beaker and out of your cup. The best part is that this French press is dishwasher safe. All of the pieces of the French press can be taken apart for easy and safe dishwasher cleaning.
Classic Coffee Press, 4 Cup, Heat Resistant Knob, Stay Cool Handle - Primula
$19.90
Nothing beats Primula’s Classic 4 Cup Coffee Press when it comes to delivering a rich elegant satisfying cup of French press coffee. Sophisticated and stylish, this design is made with high-quality durable glass and stainless steel parts. Framed with gleaming… read more
The Primula Classic Coffee Press is the way to go when it comes to delivering a rich, elegant, and satisfying cup of French press coffee. The sophisticated and stylish design is made with high quality and durable glass and stainless steel parts. Framed with gleaming chrome accents, Primula's coffee press has a heat resistant knob and plunger that securely fits atop the chrome lid. The handle is sturdy, giving you a firm and reliable grip. The carefully designed fitted lid and angled spout allow for clean and even pours. All the parts are designed to make sure the coffee grounds are kept in the beaker and out of your cup. It's so easy to use that even a beginner can make the perfect cup of French press coffee right out of the box! This French press is dishwasher safe and easy to clean, this classic coffee press will quickly become your go-to coffee maker.
If you need a French press that is going to keep your coffee or tea hot for hours, then you need the Primula Lexington Double Wall Stainless Steel Coffee Press. The polished stainless steel finish makes this a sleek addition to any kitchen. The double wall vacuum sealed insulated design can keep freshly brewed coffee hot for several hours, and the fine stainless steel French press coffee plunger filter is perfect for making flavorful coffee without sediment. The premium stainless steel is constructed so it will not crack or break during use. This French press is built for tough performance for all your coffee making needs. The fine stainless steel French press coffee plunger filter is perfect for making flavorful coffee without sediment. This French press also makes the perfect gift for coffee lovers, tea lovers, and so much more.
This Primula Classic 8 Cup Coffee Press is perfect for making the perfect cup of coffee. Sophisticated and stylish, this design is made with high quality durable glass, stainless steel, and heat-safe plastic framed with red accents. Primula's coffee press has a heat-resistant knob. The handle is sturdy and provides a firm and reliable grip. The carefully designed fitted lid and angled spout allows for clean and even pours. You'll never go back once you've tried the Primula Classic 8 Cup Coffee Press!
Can you Make Anything Else in a French Press?
While the French press may be small, it can do a whole lot more than you might think! Using a French press for a wide variety of drinks, coffee, and tea allows you to save on kitchen and counter space.
Loose Leaf Tea in a French Press
It's time to ditch the single-use tea bags and start opting for loose leaf tea. Tea is a great drink to brew using a French press and it's super easy. All you have to do is follow the exact same steps that you would make coffee in a French press, but for tea. Loose leaf tea would work best when it comes to making different types of tea in a French press.
In case you need a step-by-step guide showing how to brew loose leaf tea, we've gotcha!
- When it comes to brewing loose leaf tea in a French press you'll want to start by warming up your water in our Primula Precision Pour Kettle on the stovetop. Once heated, add your loose leaf tea, pour in your hot water, wait about two minutes in order for the tea to steep, and gently press the plunger all the way down until all of the loose leaf tea is pushed at the bottom. You know have fresh, deliciously made hot tea!
Cold Brew Coffee in a French Press
You can also make cold brew coffee in a French press! The cold brew coffee brewing method does take a bit longer than brewing hot coffee, but it is so worth it. The same thing as the traditional brewing method or tea, you'll want to add coffee grounds, water, and stir, except this time, you will want to leave the French press inside of the refrigerator for 12-24 hours to get the maximum brewing time for your delicious cold brew!
Frothing Milk in a French Press
Did you know you can froth milk when using a French press? Well, you can! All you have to do is heat up some milk, pour the warm milk into the French press, and gently pump the plunger up and down for about 1 minute. You'll notice the milk getting frothier within seconds.
Infusing Water in a French Press
Try infusing water using a French press. Adding fruits or herbs can be a great way to add flavor to water, and it's a healthy way to do it!
Cleaning Rice & Grains in a French Press
Next time you are cooking with rice or any other grain that needs cleaning, try rinsing out rice using a French press. Since the French press has a strainer, it is easy to rinse rice and other grains. You can add the grains and water, and pump the plunger gently and a few times until the water is clear.
Mixed Drinks in a French Press
For our 21 and up crowd, try making a mixed drink using a French press. Not everyone has a fancy cocktail shaker and other bar equipment, so try putting your mixed drink ingredients into the French press, gently press the plunger up and down to mix all of the ingredients together, and voila, you have a delicious beverage!
What Grind Should I Use for a French Press?
- Check out our grind size chart for an in-depth look at the different types of grinds to use for the different types of coffee makers we offer.
For a French press, you'll want to use a coarse grind to make your coffee. A coarse grind should be around the same size as sea salt, it is visibly chunky and is the perfect grind for a French press. This kind of grind is a bit finer than an extra coarse grind, but still has visible chunks, similar to the extra coarse grind. When adding water to your French press, you will want to opt for a coarser grind to avoid over-extracted coffee. This would leave your coffee tasting bitter and unpleasant, and we all know that no one wants that in their coffee.
Now you have learned how to make coffee in a French press, the history of the French press, and how to make other beverages in a French press like tea, cold brew, mixed drinks, and even how to clean rice and other grains. The options are endless when it comes to a French press from Primula. What will you come up with?